Game



June 25, 1 0- D. J. SULLIVAN GAHE Filed July 5, 1938 3 Sheets Sheet 1 D e]- fiulliran 1 June 25, 1940. D. J. SULLIVAN GAME Fil ed July 5, 19:59

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 25, 1940. D. J. suLLNAN GAME Filed July 5, 19158 3 Shaets-Sheet 3 lg nl i D J 15:: lZz'l/an Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME Daniel J. Sullivan, Graniteville, Mass. Application July 5,1938, Serial No. 217,513

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a game of the gravity runway type, and it is one object of the invention to provide a game of this character consisting of a base having improved means for supporting ladder-like members. in an upright position in order that runways may be engaged with the ladder-like members or supports in such relation to each other and at such an incline that marbles may rollalong the runways from one to another and bodily delivered upon the base and come to rest in chance-controlled positions.

Another object of the invention is to so form the means for supporting the uprights or ladderlike members that they may serve not only as means for supporting the ladder-like members in an upright position but also constitute means for holding the runways firmly in place when they are packed in the base.

Another object of the invention is to so form the supporting means for, the ladder-like members that, while these members may be firmly mounted in an upright position, they may be very easily removed when the game is to be dismantled.

Another object of the invention is to so form the runways that, when the game is in use, a marble rolling along one runway may drop from the lower end thereof onto the high end of a runway beneath it without bouncing transversely oif the runway upon which it drops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game consisting of a comparatively few number of parts which may be very easily-assembled or taken apart and, when taken apart, compactly packed in the base and held stationary therein. I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing'the improved game principally in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1, 1

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the game,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner in which the balls roll from one runway to another,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing the runways and other demountable elements packed in the base which serves as a box.

The base ,I of this game is preferably formed 13, a special score will be obtained according to of wood andis of oblong outline, as shown :in

Figure 2, and provided with side walls 2 and end walls 3.

that, if so desired, the cross bars may be cut from a single strip of wood of appropriate thickness and width and length. The cross bar 4 consists of separate sections which have their inner-ends spaced from each other to provide a passage 8' and the intermediate strips of the cross bars have their inner ends spaced from each other to provide pockets 9 intended to receive the lower ends of ladder-like supports or uprights which will be hereinafter more specifically referred to. Strips l0 are-provided at opposite sides of the passage 8 and extend between the cross bars 4 and the adjacent end wall 3 of the base, and between these strips is located a block having a downwardly sloping and curved upper surface so that, when a marble drops upon this block, it will be directed through the passage 8 longitudinally of the base. Therefore, the marble will roll along the base and finally come to rest in a chance-controlled location. If the marble comes to rest upon one of the small circles I2 or within the large circle the rules of the game. Recessesv I4 are formed in the upper faces of the cross bars 4 and 5 and there have also been provided end recesses l5 which serve a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The runways 16 are of duplicate constructio and each consists of an elongated strip or bar formed of wood and having its upper surface channeled, as shown at H, in order that, when -amarble I8 is placed upon the upper runway, K40

it may roll along the same without moving transversely off it and upon reaching the end of the runway drop upon the runway beneath it .and then roll along this runway to the .end

thereof, this being repeated until the marble leaves, the end of the lowest runway and drops upon the block ll along which it will roll and through the passage 8 onto the bottom of the base. Side plates 20 are secured against opposite side edge faces of one end portion of each runway and between each pair of side plates is mounted a block 2| corresponding to the block l;l. By providing each runway with an end block 2! momentum will be imparted to the marbles as they roll along runways and drop 56 il. l

from the runways onto those below them. The side plates 20 serve very effectively to brace the blocks 2i and also to prevent the marbles from bouncing transversely off the runways as they drop from ends of the runways onto those below them. These runways are to be supported one over another substantially horizontally but with each at a downward incline towards one end which is disposed over the higher end of the runway below it. In order to support the runways, there have been provided ladder-like supports or uprights 22, each of which consists of side rails or strips .23 and cross rods 24 which extend between the side rails with end portions of the cross rods engaged in openings 25 formed through the side rails. The side rails of the uprights 22 fit into the pockets 9 of the cross bars 5 and 5 to firmly but detachably mount the ladder-like supporting devices in upright positions and the cross rods are so located between the side rails that, when the runways are applied, as shown in Figure Leach runway will extend at a downward incline towards one end and have its lower end disposed over the high end of the runway beneath it. Therefore, the marbles will follow a zig-zag course back and forth along the runways and will finally drop upon the block H and from this block be directed through the passage 8 and onto the bottom of the base where they will finally come to rest in some chance-controlled position which may be within the circles 12 and I3 or at any other point upon the bottom of the base.

i The base not only serves its purpose as a base for the game apparatus but in addition constitutes a box into which the runways, the ladder-like devices and the marbles are to be stored when the game is not in use. Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that, when the game is not in use, the ladder-like supports or uprights will be placed upon the bottom of the base and also the marbles placed upon the bottom of the base.

The runways are disposed as shown in this figure with certain of the runways extending through the end recesses l5 along inner faces of side walls of the base and the remaining runways arranged in pairs with the two runways of each pair in face to face engagement with each other and fitted within the recesses 14. When the runways are set into the recesses, they fit snugly in the base and certain of the runways have their ends engaged between the side plates 20 of other runways. This aids in providing a compact arrangement of parts and also assists in preventing the runways from accidentally moving out of the recesses. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a base, cross bars in said base, supports adapted to be removably engaged with and supported in an upright position by said cross bars, runways removably supported by said supports in position over each other and each sloping towards one' end with its lower end disposed over the high end of a runway under it, and freely movable objects adapted to roll down the runways from one to another'and be discharged from the lower runway onto the base, said cross bars being formed with recesses leading from their upper faces to receive portions of the runways when the runways are disposed longitudinally in the base in inoperative position.

2. A game apparatus comprising a base, cross bars in said base and having recesses, runways of a length adapting them to extend longitudinally in the base when in a collapsed position with portions engaged through the recesses of the cross bars, supports adapted to be removably engaged with and supported in an upright position by the cross bars, said supports being of a length adapted them to extend longitudinally in the base'between the cross bars and under the runways when in a collapsed position, said runways being removably engageable with the supports when the supports are in an upright position and supported thereby one over another with. each extending at a downward incline towards oneend, and freely movable objects adapted to roll along the runways from one to another and come to rest upon the base.

3. A game, apparatus comprising a base, supports, means carried, by the base for removably mounting thesupports in an upright position in spaced relationto each other longitudinally of the base,;runways removably engageable with the supports when the supports are in an upright position being disposedone over another with each extending at a downward incline toward one end, and freely movable obljects adapted to roll along the runways from one to another and .come to rest upon the base, said runways being of a length to be disposed longitudinally in the base in a collapsed position, and saidsupportsbeing disposed upon the base under the runways in collapsed position, said first mentioned means havingnotches for receiving the runways andv the supports in collapsed position.

-a length adapting them. to be placed flat upon the base between the cross bars when in a collapsed position,z.said supports each consisting of side rails. andcross barsextending between the side rails, the supports being disposed in an upright position for use. with lower end portions -of their side rails-engaged in. the pockets of said cross bar, irunways removably engageable with the support and when engaged therewith resting upon 'the cross barsin positions with each extending at an incline towards one end, and freely movable objects for rolling along the run- .ways each runway having one end portion provided with upwardly curved cup shaped means at oneuend :for receiving-the freely movable objects, directing said objects along the run- :Wayand: giving impetus to the objects.

DANIEL J. SULLIVAN. 

